Paul's Boutique

Pretty cool

very funky, not similar to my usual choice of music but it is fun, upbeat, interesting textures

maneirissimo este ja tinha ouvido gosto muito dessas musicas todo mundo odeia o chris ta ligado beats maneiros rimas maneiras capa maneira, um album maneiro

Simply great

Yea they're good I like them. 6.9/10

Not sure how this one is aging. Maybe 3.5?

I do have a copy of this album, but it's fallen off my musical radar and I hadn't heard it for > 25 years (probably longer). It's a symbol of a bygone time, an easier time, where artists absolutely fucking scraped every sample they could from absolute anywhere (before licensing and royalties were considered) and created musical masterpieces. Musically it's incredible, but I always found their rapping to be the one aspect that let it down. It's probably somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, I'll go with 4.

The sampling on this record is next level. Lyrics also ingenious. Not my personal favorite Beasties record though, even though it was certainly groundbreaking. So for that reason… a 4 for me.

I listened to the Beastie Boys when I was a kid, but kind of wrote them off as childish. But who cares? This album was fun.

It's for a very specific mood, but if you want to feel like you're riding on the 2000s NYC subway, the Beastie Boys is the best

I get why they were jealous of de la soul

original white boy swag. why are we complaining about the yelling?

the only white rappers I respect and like lol

This was a blast to go back and listen to. Beastie Boys have always been a band that I have liked, even if I didn't own a ton of their stuff. I knew a lot from this record, including Hey Ladies, Johnny Ryall, and Shake Your Rump, the last of which is one my top 2 or 3 favorite songs by them. I forgot about Egg Man, which is a super fun song to listen to. There were others as well that were great to check out, as I don't remember many of the rest. That said, this album has the unfortunate circumstance of being less than a month removed from me having listened to License to Ill, which I think is their best record. This just isn't quite as good, even if it is considered one of the landmark albums of hip hop. While I am squarely between 4 and 5 stars on this, much like I was with L2I, I am landing on this at 4 stars, as it doesn't quite hit as high as the raw energy of that record, even if it is a move towards a more sophisticated sound with stronger beats.

Was fun!

жека

In retrospect I dig this. I did not when it came out😂

Not my style of music but I can absolutely appreciate the lyrical genius and music

Standard beastie fare.

Did not disappoint

Humpty Dumpty was a big fat egg

more on the 3,5 side; I thought it got a little fatiguing towards the end

I enjoyed going through the lyrics while listening - a lot of "huh?" moments followed by a chuckle or a nod of respect to the wit. Also enjoyed the punk rock elements. Though the album isn't something I would go to for leisurely listening, it was quite a ride. 3.5 rounded up.

Initially thought this was crazy long, then was surprised at it being only 53 minutes, which is still long, but less so for 23 tracks. Looks like the numbering is not always consistent here. Anyway, let's get started! Listening notes: -The frat party vibe of this album shouldn't work as well as it does. But the call and response style here is infectious -The B-Boy bouillabaisse suite has some really cool stuff. Really elevates the whole album Review: I don't know that their style is really my kinda thing, but they really make it work. Jammy 80s hiphop. 4Stars

Damn, this album ripped. Loved it!

Hell yeah

Oooooooooh no. This album annoys me to no end. I know it’s objectively good but I can’t stand The Beastie Boys outside of their hits. It did a lot for sampling and that little Ramones sample is my favorite part of the whole thing, but god, it annoys me, so I’m taking off a star because they’re obnoxious.

Pretty much never listen to Beastie Boys which makes this so chill to listen to. One of the guys sounds like Mr. Meeseeks though, which is very distracting…

7.5/10 - Songs similar but good listen

I love this, though it won’t make it into a regular rotation for me. A lot of it has to do with high school nostalgia but also I love the exuberance. These songs make me want to bounce along with them. Favorites: Egg Man, Sounds of Science

Paul’s Boutique always has what you’re looking for.

I came in fully expecting to hate this album. Eighties rap, and considered their most “artistic” album? That’s a recipe for disaster. I was so very wrong, this album rocks! The musical production is great. It seems fully sample based but it still creates coherent and powerful song structures. The rapping is very strong and the songs have a lot of variety and flow. Great hip hop album four stars.

Não é muito o meu estilo mas reconheço que é bom!!

Didn’t realize the Eagles sample even existed on High Plains Drifter

Great album

Excellent album, I'd give it 4.5 if I could. Not my usual genre and vibe, but it has so much kinetic, playful momentum and creativity. Such density and variety of samples, yet they all feel purposeful.

Ok

liked shake your rump, egg man, the sounds of science, 3-minute rule, hey ladies, what comes around, get on the mic, stop that train favorite is shake your rump or hey ladies who doesnt like beastie boys..

4/5

POWERFUL. Samples and chaos collide, bound together by indomitable groove. Lotta depth, lotta fun!

I know it's a marvel of sampling genius and is jam-packed with allusions references and inside jokes--loads of fun--but I find it almost exhausting at times.

I had real fun listening to this. You can really feel the synergy between the MCs, who work amazingly well together to deliver some really comedic stuff. And with great backing tracks, coupled with what I imagine was really innovative sampling for the time, it's safe to say that my rump was shook.

Los chicos saben sobrellevar bases muy raras, sus timbres, ritmo y cadencia hacen el álbum muy entretenido. Está lleno de ambientación, bases cargadas pero con patrones fáciles de seguir. Merece más de una escucha para analizar bien las letras.

Actually a solid album, I was surprised

Classic

Australia mention Admittedly got 3/4 way through but will keep listening and so far big fan of the beats sometimes the amounts/scan of lyrics was jarring but that seems like a me problem

I was enjoying but slightly got distracted a then 5-Piece Chicken Dinner brought me right back what a song!

This was fun!

Lots of fun! Copyright laws should allow everyone to sample everything. Nothing means nothing.

I really really dislike the Beastie Boys. But I have to admit, the sampling and grooves on this record are cool. And it is incredibly creative and well produced. The rapping and lyrics get quite annoying after 50 minutes, but it’s a cool record. I wish I could just hear the no vocals version of this record.

good

Standouts Shake Your Rump Egg Man Hey Ladies Shadrach

classic

Enjoying this more than I thought I would Don’t think I could pick a song out of it that I loved but all together that album was decent

MILBB (Man I Love Beastie Boys). These guys really brought sampling to the forefront, and I love sampling! Beastie Boys albums are all about 3 white guys having a bunch of fun jumping around on a beat, and it's hard for anyone to hate that. It's not as good as Ill Communication, though.

Lots of bangers, lyrics more mature than the last album.

Yeah, this is just sick. I think I've only ever heard Shake Your Rump before. The texture! The production!

Love , loved the way the first song set up the album. Anticipation ooh. Was cut off short so will listen again

Onhan tää nyt klassikko, mut ei yllä ihan täysiin tähtiin. Beastie boysin taustabiitit on aina ollu tykkejä ja tätäkin levyä tullut luukuteltua aika paljon nuoruudessa

Ihan jeppiskamaa. Ei ollut tuttu levy, mutta kivasti svengasi työpäivän kylkeen!

Muistin että tää ois jo kolmas biisti ja poissi mut ei ollutkaan. Tää on kyl räväkkää menoo ja täysiä tykitellään läpi levyn ilman turhaa hengähdystaukoo. Linja pitää paremmin kun siin toisessa mikä kuunneltiin joskus syssymmällä. Vähän myös paulin putiikista kantautuu punk-sävyjä ja sit anarkismi on yleisesti läsnä. Eli hyvää koohausta ja täynnä enertsii ilman batterii. On kyl muutenkin tuttu levy jo ennestään, että ehkä se vähän myös nostaa fiilaria. Tai sitten ei.

I raised three sons and listened to alot of Beasties. License to Ill is still my favorite, but this one keeps my toes tapping too. Nothing too serious, easy to play along.

A joyous listen.

yeah

Mycket kul album! Ett minus är att man blir lite trött innan det är slut

THE ELECTRIC CITY! Grymma då gamechanging beats framförallt! Kanske egentligen är en trea till hur nice det är att lyssna på idag, men ger det en fyra för sin inverkan på så mycket som det här banade vägen för.

Har alltid charmats ihjäl av beastie boys. De har tramsbyxorna på, men vilka mästerliga beatmakare! Otroligt bra och smakfullt samplat och så jävla kul att lyssna efter små detaljer i kollagen. Letade sig in några sekunder Ramones bland all gammal funk, och anade en kortis av sweets ”ballroom blitz”. ”When I’m 64”-samplen i ”the sound of science” är genial. Känns som en revansch för medelklass-vit, livsbejakande och dekadent larv-rap efter den pissusla Malcolm McLaren-skivan. ”I’ve got more stories than jd’s got salinger” är en så ljuvligt kass line. ”I was makin records when you were suckin your mothers dick”. Va?

The flagrant disregard for copyright is legendary enough before even getting to the music

Yeah

This is kind of an overwhelming album, it goes in many different directions and the layering is very dramatic. It's maybe too much and too diverse to be a repeat listen but there's no denying it's electrifying and deserves to be returned to.

The amount of ADHD running through this record is astronomical. The influence on 100 Gecs cannot be overstated. I loved the backing tracks and samples! Such a feat of creativity. The vocal delivery and flow did get old after a while, but not enough to distract me from everything there is to love here. Early on in listening I was like, y’know this kind of sounds like Le Tigre. Then I remembered that Kathleen Hanna is married to Adam Horovitz.

Like the Beastie boys, like how they completely changed things up on this album, the growth is unreal, 4 Star

The samples are SO GOOD. How do you even come up with mixing all these different elements together??

The Beastie Boys have such a unique sound. I have never listened to one of their albums before, just what they play on the radio. My preference for rap leans towards what can be understood and this was very enjoyable to jam. The music videos were SO 90s.

Some shite on there but I mostly enjoyed it,

Solid baseline in Speed King, love it. Part way thru Flight of the Rat, he’s beating on that keyboard like its a rented mule lol. Most of the songs possess that signature distorded keyboard. Can see why that put them with led zepplin and black sabbath as the “unholy trio” with this album. Goes pretty hard.

I know some Beastie Boys but none of these songs. Some fun rhythms and tons of great samples. The bird is the word! Ballroom Blitz! Extremely unexpected banjo! Star Trek reference! Listened before? N Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Shake Your Rump, Johnny Ryall, The Sounds Of Science, Hey Ladies, Shadrach ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Really liked it. Saved a bunch of tracks.

Honestly theyre really weird i love it Havent finished the album but will defs go back to

Why’s this first song so damnnn quiet. Reminds me of the intro to my album that drives me fucking insane lol. Driving around in my CAR This album got me feelin like a STAR 3.5?

this shit was super cool to listen to i liked the sample flipping and it was hard not to get lit listening to it

This is enjoyable, atmospheric, nostalgic, and hugely influential. Unmistakably Beastie Boys, and despite it not containing any of their mega-hits is consistently very good.

Not the biggest Beastie Boys fan, but this was a fun listen.

My all time fav BBs record

Loads of variety, loads of fun.

This was a shocker. Granted, when I read it was the Sgt Peppers of hip hop, that probably already biased me more positively. But when this album came up I was immediately disappointed. I historically don’t like the Beastie Boys. This album surprised me, in a good way. I still Probably won’t seek out listening to the Beastie Boys per se, but I did enjoy this and might even listen again!

goooood

Perhaps the best Belen of rock, Lo fi and rap, this from a guy (me) who really can’t abide most rap. So take that with a grain. Either way, this record proves that BB’s were real.

Liked it. Theres nothing like Beastie Boys in the industry and that's what makes their style unique IMO. 4/5

Ended up looping this by accident. Fun!

I like recognising the samples but not much of it is music I'd pop on again.

The second half is a lot better when they're allowed to sample some great songs.

Good eclectic mix of samples, lots of shouting vocals and funky riffs. Some good humour, this was a lot more enjoyable than expected. I'd never heard this stuff at all, and will be listening again and possibly deep diving into more of their material properly

This was an unbelievably fun album to listen to! The sampling and music writing was incredible. The "singing" is so incredibly unique, you know who it is right away. The lyrics are awesomely awful but fit the goofiness of everything so well. Probably the only rap album I will ever enjoy.

Dope. 4/5.

The Beastie Boys try to actually rap this time, and its good???? Them white boys were moving different back then...

8.5/10

Classic. Full of those charming lyrical verses and tons of excellent sampling. Really loved it

4.5- really good album. It only loses out on a 5 from me b/c of that last 12 minutes.

Good stuff, diverse and fun.

15/11/2025 For some reason, I've got a lot of time for the Beastie Boys. Like them a lot. Spotify listeners: 7.4 million

great album, everything works well together

good

Despite the lack of major hits, aside from Shake Your Rump and Hey Ladies, this album is catchy and easy to groove to from beginning to end. 4/5

I can never tell which Beastie Boy is on the mic. Incredible sampling

Awesome beats. Can appreciate there wasn't really anything like it before. The rapping was OK but I did struggle to make out some of it.

It's among their best

sehr schöner old school saftige bässe MIKE ON THE BEAT

I liked the style of this album. I'm a fan of the Beasties, and even though this didn't have their biggest hits, I like the production on the album.

Classicone, ce l'ho fisico. Non il mio prefe ma bello.

My kind of rap.

4.0 Hip Hop classic from three Jewish boys from the Bronx. Timeless and classic.

Great use of sampling - the "shouting" helps me get stuff done!

Sick vibes

This is one of the big beasties albums though not sure I've ever heard it. Definitely is a prime example of them. Generally like the vibe though not sure I recognised any of the tracks. Felt like they became a bit more polished than the debut which felt even more tongue in cheek. Didn't wow me but it was good, 3.5.

Heard this before and I know it's considered an important album. I don't think it's as good as Ill communication though. At the risk of sounding like an old man, on quite a lot of tracks I can't understand what they're saying, and I want to hear the vocals! There's some great sampling though. I liked egg man and hey ladies the best I think. 3.5

não achei que fosse gostar tanto assim

this feels like the origin of 2000's movies with white middle school gang music

A rough around the edges kitchen sink album with tons of charm. Honestly just sounds like they were having tons of fun making this. Another solid 4

Habe mit 16/17 richtig viel Beastie Boys gehört, aber nie dieses Album. Das Album hat den Drive einer Punk-Band, groovt wie Sau, super kurzweilig. Richtiges starkes Jonglieren mit Samples. Klingt so, als hätten die Drei richtig Spaß beim Aufnehmen gehabt. Finde die Lyrics überwiegend echt witzig, teilweise sind sie schlecht gealtert. Hat mich gleich beim ersten Hören sehr begeistert, werde mich mehr damit beschäftigen. Eventuell in Zukunft 5 Sterne.

Not my cup of tea, but I can't deny that Beastie Boys do their thing. It's interesting and all over the place but still has a coherent identity with interesting themes and ideas and I have a lot of respect for that.

Yay!

Shout at me more, Beastie Boys

Good vibes all around. Feels like a dancr party in the 89s/90s

They get a lot better after this album, but the roots of their sound start to emerge in this album. Love all the samples!

Probably the most I've ever enjoyed listening to this album. The production is very consistent and fun and obviously way ahead of its time. And a huge leap creatively and artistically from their debut. However, this is just never gonna be my favorite beastie boys album it lacks the great singles that other albums have and I'd rather have a little more chaos and adventurous sounds to have those banger singles rather than this album which is tighter and more consistent but lacks singles and is less quirky and all over the place. Important for their catalogue and important for rap in general and I kinda get why it's everyone else's favorite but it won't ever be mine.

A classic, old-school hip-hop album. I like the aggression in the Beastie Boys and this album in particular. It doesn't beat around the bush with its anger, directed at a plethora of things. It was concise and packed a lot of power, however it missed the peak moment taking the album to an absolute top rating. 4/5

I find the beastie boys' vocals to be a little challenging for extended periods. I'm definitely not alone in this, but I also don't feel that it's insurmountable. Here's the thing: this album is brilliantly produced, the sampling is unreal and the songs are all really well written. Any one of them on their own is punchy and interesting and a great listen. - it's just that a whole album of it is difficult to get through. On the other hand, the album as a whole is also quite good and has a tonne of hidden depth, and I feel like if I took the time to listen to this again a couple of times I'd get used to it and really enjoy finding everything that's layered in there. As such, it doesn't really feel fair to mark this one down for those vocals... They're a strong stylistic choice that I actually really respect, even if it'd take me a bit of getting used to. Plus 5 piece chicken dinner caught me completely off-guard while driving and I almost had to pull over. Great album.

fun, a bit dated with the material (a lot of hip hop is not PC, but this was so in kind of a cringey way) and the B-boy bouillabaisse at the end was probably the best set of songs

Love the Beasties. Nobody else would put samples from both Psycho and Jaws on a track about eggs. B-Boy Bouillabaisse is such a fun trip, too.

Great Songs: Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies, Car Thief, Shadrach Good Songs: To All the Girls, Johnny Ryell, Egg Man, The Sounds of Science, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, What Goes Around, Ask for Janice Mid Songs: High Plain's Drifter, 3-Minute Rule Bad Songs: 5-Piece Chicken Dinner

Paul’s boutique is a fun listen overall. Time piece for sure, and a classic beastie boys sound. Looking down the barrel of a gun is nyhc for sure, especially after the first beastie boys release.

The epitome of the boys will always be LTI, but this has its own charms.

My favorite Beastie Boys album and "Car Thief" is my favorite Beastie Boys song. A sampling fan's paradise. Favorite track: Car Thief

Pretty great from start to finish and amazing how many samples they use without sounding like the original songs at all.

Pretty cool hip hop

Humpty dumpty was a big fat egg !

Well, my recent 1001 run keeps on going strong…and a second Beastie Boys album within a week! Another album which is a lot of fun and deserves to be on the list. Johnny Ryall is brilliant, and I love the Beatles sample from The End used in The Sounds of Science.

It’s taken me a long time to understand Beastie Boys having only liked the singles previously, but I feel like I’m finally getting them. Sample-based music is an art form I’m still not fully onboard with, but I get how amazing and playful the production is here. Glad to finally join the hype train.

Sample Heaven

Love it 4/5

I’m a high (high) plains (plains) drifta (drifta)…

i just know this album was revolutionary for white boys everywhere

A pretty good album by all accounts, though there's a certain "je ne sais quoi" missing for me.

Musically, this is the tits. Rap-wise... meh. I mean, it's fun, don't get me wrong. They're having a blast and it's infectious. But their flow is the same for every song. And while I like their references, there's not a lot of meat there. Also, I can only take so much of their vocal timbre. But it's good time, and it's a masterpiece of sampling, and It's literally the kind of record no one can afford to make any more.

Hard to beat The Boys! I listened to this twice, including the bonus content. 4.5

Once I got over the style (the parody by Morris Minor and the Majors kept popping into my head) I really enjoyed this. I wasn't really into it at the time but I can appreciate the innovation.

A classic

Aguanten los beastie boys, no supera al álbum Comunications pero es un álbum que muestra la escencia de la banda. Discazo para mi, te remonta bien a los 90s y toda la movida del hip hop pero le agregan ese plus de ritmos que no es solo un grupo de raperitos y te hace mover la cabeza al ritmo PD1: NOSE pero también me hacen siempre a acordar a este against the machine, no se si será la forma que grabaron los discos o que, desmiéntanme grupo PD: escuchen Sabotage

After loving Licensed To Ill when it came out, by the time Paul’s Boutique was released I’d kinda lost interest. It didn’t make an impact on me at the time, but that was due to me having less interest in what they were doing. Retrospectively, this still took a while. I think that was mainly due to me being more into their albums that followed this. Looking back now though, I can appreciate this. Energetic and fun, although definitely of its time it still works. A little bloated, but an easy 4.

A true gem from these guys. An album of theirs that I probably overlook when I go to listen to the Beastie Boys as I usually go for their debut or their 90s work first. I often forget how much fun they are. 4/5

Bon mix expérimental de plusieurs genres, énormément de samples, de guitares et de percus grasses, et un surplus d'énergie bienvenu. Pas tout le temps ce que j'aime, mais globalement une bonne découverte

Forgot how great this album was.

🤘🤘

HELLOOOOOO BROOKLYYYYNNNNNN I listened to this passively which maybe wasn’t the ideal choice, sorry to kill the perfect 5 y’all 😂 Liked the B-Boy Bouillabaisse tracks more than the front half! Was ready to give this a 3 but I’ll bump up

Solid beats + solid flow = solid ranking

The gulf in musical quality between the comedy/rock/rap cheese of License To Ill and the genre-transforming sample sophistication of Paul's Boutique often makes my brain hurt. Possibly the coolest three guys in the music biz, it's hard to criticise them at all really - they manage to pull off not seeming to take anything too seriously without being self-righteous pricks, while still making great music. No mean feat. Is Paul's Boutique their best album? Probably, possibly. Is it my personal favourite? No, but it's up there, and deserves the praise it now routinely commands.

Song a little too similar one to another, but very groovy experience.

Here's how I would rank Beastie Boys albums: 1. Ill Communication 2. Check Your Head 3. Hello Nasty 4. Paul's Boutique 5. Hot Sauce Committee Part Two 6. To the 5 Boroughs 7. Licensed to Ill 8. The Mix-Up Fun fact from Beastie Boys Book: Paul's Boutique was a real store and you hear the store's phone number on the album. However, they went out of business shortly after release. Adam Yauch had the presence of mind to acquire the number. The voicemail you hear on Check Your Head--Hey, yo, Paul, this is Al, you can kiss my ass...--comes from a message left at that number.

I think the first songs are ok, the songs in the middle are better

the absolutely wild breadth of samples in this album are honestly mindblowing - over 105 samples on the album, 24 in the last song, and an incredible combination of genres and sound to create a wonderfully complex album that was instrumental to the development of sampledelia and other samples (i.e. the ATL trap influences from "Hello Brooklyn" is crazy)

Love it

At first I thought: who are these white kids screaming at me. But then I got it. This is brilliant.

Loved it

A bit weaker than Ill Communication, but it still has great rhymes and great vibes.

The concept isn't hard to grasp but delivers good results. Good beats, humour, infectious hooks and you got something that won't bore. Doesn't have any of the hits but it doesn't need those to get me moving.

When I got this album I thought, “Fuck, not the Beastie Boys!” I was wrong. “Licensed to Ill” came out when I was in high school and I really didn’t have much respect for the taste of the kids who were into the album. This opinion was reinforced later when the media dubbed this frat-rap. What could be lamer, right? Again, I was wrong. This is among the more interesting hip-hop albums I’ve heard. Reading up on its innovations and later influences, I was even more impressed. Here is a band who many, including me, dismissed out of hand as imposters, having the courage to innovate rather than simply playing it safe. The Beastie Boys play their own jazz-funk instrumentals (actually playing instruments is personally appreciated), then intertwining samples from original pieces. The result is a really interesting soundscape. This is more than beats, it is genuinely interesting music (with great beats too, of course). It is easy to see why many critics now consider this to be among the most important hip-hop albums of all time, it is remarkable that it was creates by three white kids who were openly mocked by so many. I stand corrected. I will be revisiting Paul's Boutique again in the future. It was a hell of a lot of fun to listen to and I'm generally not a big fan of the genre.

In my book, The Beastie Boyz so synonymous with NYC that I have to take them like I take in the Ciry when I visit: fully and only for 3-4 days at a time. I enjoy every second I'm in it, but I'm ready to move on to something less intense after a few days.

Paul’s Boutique is a huge step forward for the Beasties. If they’d have done LTI 2 I think it would have cast them into a corner that they might not have been able to get out of. Instead they showed the world that they were innovators who followed their noses and instincts and made something that was at the forefront of hip hop, moving away from a more simplistic use of samples to creating dense compositions from multiple samples in a way that just can’t happen now due to legalities and cost. They weren’t the first but they did it in their own way. Vocally the BB hallmarks are still there but the style was almost proto 90s with multi syllabic rhymes and dense references to pop culture which wove around the music with their typical intertwined delivery. Paul’s Boutique isn’t perfect but it does thrive in its own chaos.

Good music is like a time capsule- it takes you to the time and place the music was recorded. Hearing ¨Paul’s Boutique¨ feels like being in Giuliani’s New York, complete with graffitied trains, the crack epidemic and being mugged in Times Square. You can almost taste the Reaganomics at work. I always forget how high the Beastie Boys’ voices can get, except for MCA (RIP). Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s grating, and while they’re never going to win awards for lyricism, they do know how to create an atmosphere. Listening to ¨Hey Ladies,¨ I’d put this era of the Beasties as the rap equivalent of Motely Crue (see ¨Girls, Girls, Girls¨ for a spiritual sister track). The music is just as 80s as anything else, but I do appreciate the ¨everything and the kitchen sink¨ approach to sampling. I know people call this the Sgt. Pepper or Pet Sounds of rap, but I’m not cultured enough to have made that connection. It’s 80s rap for someone who reads Pitchfork and New Yorker cartoons, and I’m not cultured enough to read those either. Standout tracks: Car Thief, Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies

A time capsule. HEY LADIES

Fav Tracks - Shake That Rump (PHATTTT), The riff on down the barrel of a gun (Mississippi queen sample!), Shadrach Didn’t know any of these BB tracks, great to hear them, the bars are iconic as per, and the samples/beats are smooth as. The album lacks a huge hit, like their other records have; eg: sabotage / no sleep til Brooklyn, but it makes it a more cohesive listen.

Love it

Satisfied to shrug off their metal fratboy personas, Beastie Boys utilize ambitious and inspired sampling to create a fun record with more depth, better rhymes, and endowed with a sense of adventure that no one could have predicted. This was the album that convinced me that MCA, Ad-Rock, and Mike D were artists worth giving a chance, and I haven't looked back since.

yeah pretty good i guess, pretty cool !

Album sympa dynamique, funky. Pas de gros coup de coeur

Pas de surprise pour moi Qualiteyyy

J'écoute jamais de rap/hip hop mais j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé. Rythme et instruments top, super découverte 4/5

Fantastic production

The raps are interesting and the beats are good.

Yes, I like this yelling rock

Well they do say you have to fight for your right to party, and with lines as poignant as "I'll beat a biter down with alunimum bat", and beats that sound like they down pitched the bad aftermath of an upsetting Taco Bell order, what's not to love. Favorite track of the album was Shake Your Rump with honorable mention to The Sounds of Science

I think I liked licensed to ill better but this is good too

I really respect the lyrics on the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique. It’s fun, inventive, and adds a lot to the hip-hop game. Their creativity on this album is top tier.

This album turned me into a beastie boy fan, golden hip hop stan and forever changed my walking down the street music, hoooly shit. It's a little long and honestly needs a hundred listens to unpack all the lyricism, if you have the attention to trawl through that much of the same delivery - I wouldn't mind though.

Great album

I like the Beastie Boys sound, but this one felt a bit directionless for me. Still enjoyable overall though.

Really enjoyed the first few songs but fell off a tad for me. Was a good soundtrack for fighting through the Glasgow winds though. Thought it was a nitty gritty dirt band sample but was from deliverance. What are the chances they sampled yesterday’s Johnny cash album as well to be fair. Specific rating -4.1 Fav song- shake your rump Least fav- sounds of science

Vraiment expérimental avec l’instru

Le début de l'album est correct, mais complètement eclipsé par la B-Boy Bouillabaisse. Beaucoup d'excellents samples/instrumental. J'ai mieux aimé l'aspect Funk/Jazz de Ill Communication, mais ici le côté hip-hop un peu plus old-school est très bien réussi.

the boyz

Solid album. Fresh and interesting sound with good lyrics and good energy. Had I not just listened to the Tribe album a couple days ago this may have gotten a 5. Will put this on the 4 side of a 4.5.

Love the beats and style, there was a moment some short song made me laugh inbetween :) overall nice, you can feel the passion they're put into this

Since when the teen titan cut hair???

This could 100% be rated higher on relisten, favourite tracks first time around were Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies and Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun. Incredibly fun album, 4 Stars.

It's the sooound of scieeeence (this album has top sample use. Full of energy and a blast, one of the best hip hop albums ever)

Beats, samples, lyrics. That's hip-hop. Will go into the rotation.

Egg Man, Sounds of Science, Shadrach - all classics.

Not bad. I still think I prefer trip hop but this is worlds better than the albums on either side of it. I wish they’d kept on going in this direction. It definitely belongs on a list of great sophomore albums.

4.0 I have something shameful to admit. I've only just now, after 3 beastie boys albums and many years of life, have realised that they were a pisstake. I always thought they were some sort vanilla ice esque tone deaf group that was somehow popular as real hip hop had yet to go mainstream. Whoops. Straight away on this album, as soon as the mock gangsta gangsta intros started did it click. I actually paid attention to the lyrics for the first time (seemingly). Then you have a song about drive by eggings. I'm an idiot. I've given it a few listens and I think it's a) really smart and b) really funny. And besides, the samples are actually incredibly well woven together. Laid the groundwork for bands like the avalanches. And now I need to go back and listen to their previous ones from here. Sorry beastie boys. My bad.

These guys were truly just the coolest. 4/5

paulin putiikki. miten voi olla olemassa näin hyvä kieli. putiikki. heh. putiikki. putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki. täämä on sitä hip hoppia parhaimmillaan.. ei mitään mumina humina hommeleita vaan asennetta ja aggressiota... kylmää kyytiä koko albumi cold motherfuckers... nämä ja ehkä eminem hyviä räppäreitä muut turhia... muut aika paskoja ja ehkä yhteiskuntaa rappioivat... hey hey (hey hey) mennään mennään kylille (kylään) ja putiikkiki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiiki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiiki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiiki putiikki putiikki putiikki putiikki putii looking down a barrel of a gun

greatness

Some great fun all throughout and nice samples. The end medley was nice as well. 4 stars

A landmark hip hop album, there will never be another quite like it. I know the Beasties can be a divisive group but regardless of how you feel this album is important to understand hip hop history.

The energy is infectious here. the three Beastie Boys all have a great chemistry with each other, and work with the samples and beats so well, changing rhythms on a dine or just rolling with it. Just a really fun album.

In the last year or so, there's been a discussion about sampling in music, as there was 40 years ago, but it's more of a different discussion. Modern sampling is just not good, not done correctly or properly to the point that people are saying sampling is boring or uncreative. But I disagree. Sampling, to me, works better when it's chopped and screwed, pitched higher or lower, to the point where you just make a whole new beat AND where the sample originates. You look at classic hip-hop and you see how much of funk, soul, gospel, rock, metal, and they work that into their advantage. No other group, in my opinion, did that better than Beastie Boys. No other example of some of the greatest sampling work done in hip hop history is Paul's Boutique.

The mastery over sampling continues on this album, same as License to Ill. I will say this album sits in a more vibey spot than License to Ill, which I both like and dislike in comparison. Just comes down to which I prefer at that moment. The vocals aren't bothering me as much as on License though, and its a more varied album. A lot more interesting guitar work and sample usage of guitars on this one.

Very into the beats and the flow. This has the feeling of being something new and testing the waters.

It was fine

A bit long but still you gotta give credit for the creativity on display.

Ma you're just jealous it's the beastie boys. Be more quinticential. But the stuff at the end of this album is fire.

Joka biisin kohdalla pää nyökkyy mukana. Mixmaster Mike alkutohinoiden tällä levyllä mutta kehityssuunta on tuttukaikille.

Really fun great hiphop album that wasn’t too long and had some cool samples sprinkled in

Fantastic album, possibly their best, in my opinion.

Excellent!!!

Fav: B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A Year And A Day Least Fav: High Plains Drifter Sound Of Science onwards it really locks in. Really enjoyed

Like a lot of bands who maybe veered into the cheesy territory later on in their careers (REM, U2, Aerosmith) I was not expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. The same thing happened with REM when I listened to their first album. There must be something about the rawness of their beginnings that comes through and speaks to me.

Classic

Another hip hop classic. Not their best material but still REALLY GOOD.

It's important to remember how innovative these guys are, by modern standards it is on the simple side. But considering they had very little frame of reference they put out some banging hip hop.

Perhaps the Beastie's at their best. Every rhyme works, and there are definitely building blocks for the rest of their albums in this one. Looking down the Barrel of a Gun is top notch

This is hip-hop, right? So I must hate it, right? Wrong! So what's the difference between this and 2Pac and Outkast? Its humour. It isn't up it's own arse. It doesn't have an agenda. And, most importantly it's got a great groove.

Not my fav among their albums but still, I can’t go wrong with these guys. They rap a lot about their grandmas and cooking and I’m into that.

Love how the three guys can jump in and out from each other. Almost could be one person. High energy nonstop.

A huge improvement over their debut. A joyously weird collage of beats and samples that kept me listening. The lyrics still aren't quite as engaging as they got later, but a step up from previously. Borderline 3/4, giving a 4 just because there feels like a depth that will reward close listening.

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe I was imagining the Beach Boys? It was a lot, but on the whole it was pretty good.

В цій рубриці ми вже знайомились з більш джазовим альбомом Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994). Сьогодні ж перед нами нехай й не мій улюблений їх альбом, але однозначно їх магнум опус. Саме він відокремив більш зрозумілий та хуковий дебютник від подальшої експериментальної творчості. Paul's Boutique примітний в першу чергу видатною роботою з семплами абсолютно різних речей. Це були й класичні соул та фанк, шматочки з різних фільмів, а також треки інших реп зірок, на кшталт Public Enemy. Все воно звучить дуже незвично та дивно. Навіть стандартна для хіп-хопу річ як «біт», тут не є такою вже очевидною. Проте вони все одно якось спромоглися навалити під все це свій качовий та технічний флоу. Це класика, що стала прикладом для експериментального хіп-хопу, яка й досі надихає безліч топових виконавців. З останніх прикладів можу навести торішній альбом No Hands від Joey Valence & Brae.

It's awesome. The mixing of hip hop, funk, punk, and rock, plus the prodigious use of sampling, creates an incredibly creative, forward-thinking, and influential record. The frat boy rhymes can be both intelligent (Pass me the scalpel, I'll make an incision I'll cut off the part of your brain that does the bitching; Put it in formaldehyde and put it in the shelf; And you can show it to your friends and say "that's my old self"), and bawdry (Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair; So I can climb up and get inside your underwear). As with all hip hop, it shows its age, but I also think it has aged like a fine wine with a realization of how foundational and influential this album was during the early days of hip hop. 4.5 stars.

Such a killer album!!

If you have read any of my reviews so far, it might be obvious that hip hop is not something that I enjoy and I don't normally choose to listen to it. Paul's Boutique is really the lone exception. I guess the difference between this and other albums in the genre is that this feels sort of like a rock and roll record, albeit one with samples and rap. Maybe it's an attitude that is conveyed, there is humor in the lyrics, it's clever. I don't listen often but occasionally, when Gina is not around, I put it on and turn up the volume really high. Then I tuck it back away until next time.

I don't fee this is their best album, but it is still fun!

The album everyone hated... until they loved it! An album so ahead of its time, it sounds like it could have been made last year and not decades ago.

Often considered their magnum opus, and I can see why now that I've finally listened to it. Love how many samples they used, loved the energy they bring to every record. I think I'd put Ill Communication a hair above this, but I can't argue with anybody saying that this is their best.

It's good

Always a fun listen. Clever rhymes, inspired samples — a true creative tour de force with such awesome energy between the three Beasties. Love it!

Lubię to.

I really liked this album. I've listened to it a few different times over the years, and I think it's one of the more memorable hip hop albums I think I've ever heard. It almost feels like an encyclopedia of beats. Very abstract/experimental parts and some dynamic vocals and a lot of fun mixed in. Playful in tone while serious in delivery, technically well crafted and felt like it was still always reaching for it's limits. I think I'll start to listen to it in like 4-5 round bursts every 2-3 years. Worth owning I think. 4.5

Muy buen disco. Los Beastie Boys hacen uso experimental del sampleo en la forma de los temas. De repente sorprenden cortando tema con segmentos en otro tempo y caracter, para retomar la continuidad. Hacen uso de una gran cantidad de recursos sonoros, pero mantienen una identidad clara, sobre todo gracias a las voces.

interestingly didn't like this as much as sabotage... but it's still super fun music.

it was pretty solid

cool experience, but wont be on my repeat

Just 3 guys who were having a good time

Trendsetter that hasn't aged too badly

I really like this era of hip hop. Great samples, fun beats, it’s just a good time. Reminded me of 3 Feet High and Rising, which I later learned came out the same year. I’ve never really listened to Beastie Boys before despite them being a huge name, but now I want to hear more.

These beats are fucking great, Beastie Boys are really overlooked in rap but this is insanely ahead of it's time

Really good album. Superb sampling, and the vintage style fits really good with rap. Their voices are perfect for the style. Really great.

найс, вайбово.

It’s okay

Not as good as Ill Communication for me but still pretty nice Will I listen to again: 62%

Great album. Reminds me of how fun 80s hip hop could be. Highlights: Johnny Ryall, 3-Minute Rule, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun Will return to more of their stuff.

Hardcore punk skater messed-up kids turning to rap couldn’t drop anything less than a wild, ironic, and eclectic gem. The lyrics are hilarious, and the high pitched flows are iconic. Great stuff to me, especially for the 80s. « Looking down the barrel of a gun » or « Shadrach » for exemple are far ahead of their time.

Great energy and great sampling

This was sick Remembered why I was suffering through all of these terrible albums

Нормально, но более поздние альбомы гораздо прикольнее

It used to be a favourite

It's a good time. Spotting all the samples is fun.

Good, entertaining rap album with creative use of samples it was ahead of its time.

Super unique sound, especially vocally. I liked it, though I did wish it had bigger hits. 7/10.

if they could only all be as interesting as A Year and a Day...

Love the Beastie Boys! This album is not my favorite, though it's fun.

Good stuff. Love this classic hip hop with what sound to be live instruments, or at least very well mixed instruments. Again, decades after people have done this sound better to more unique results and idk how many of these songs I’d go back to but I enjoyed listening to them.

I don't really know how I could be grumpy about this, the Beastie Boys are just a lot of fun. They're not all winners, obviously, and it's not, like, peak Beastie, but I just kinda respect them for their sound, yknow? Distinctive, no apologies.

9.5/10 Considering I've only really listened to a few selected songs of the beastie boys before this I really enjoyed it - at no point did i want to skip or play something else (very rare for me). You can tell they had fun making it and I had so much fun with all the samples (especially the Johny Cash right at the end of Hello Brooklyn, that was a great surprise). feel like i could spend days going through and pick new things out each listen. Iconic, get it divas. Song's added to playlist; Johnny Ryall Hey Ladies Shadrach Hello Brooklyn

More of a sound collage than an album, but one that shows you how important samples have always been to hip hop. The music was far more interesting than the rapping here, and it was appropriate that we got this album when we did because the whole thing was a fun easter egg hunt. Hearing the guitar solo from "The End" over the drums from "Sgt. Peppers" was thrilling as a Beatles fan, and I'm wondering if this helped influence the creation of the Love album.

Great

Exactly what I needed today! Fun, engaging, and quirky - both the lyrics and the sounds and the beats! 🤌🏼 I think I just really love hip hop 🥰 Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

I like Beastie Boys and read their book but for some reason I've never listened to this album? I have no idea why I haven't because it's excellent. The samples are so good in this one.

This is truly experimental music. Is it rough and hard to listen to? Yes. Is it as good as License to Ill? Not even close. But I love the big swings with this one. I love that the Beastie Boys just made a chaotic record because they freaking wanted too. The samples, genre fusing, raps, yelling, swearing. Its all so good.

Can’t lie. This one was (begrudgingly) cold.

I don’t think this album as the same anthems as License to Ill does but this album is the best work of the Beastie Boys

3.5

being in a beastie boys-type group where we all say the last word of each line together would be so much fun. very enriching activity

Sounds cute.

An improvement over License to Ill in every way. Lush productions without comprising the punk attitude they established

Fantastic album. Often overlooked in the Beasties discography, shame too. Reminds me how much we miss MCA …. Plus my favorite Beasties song is on this album - Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

i’m not gonna lie, i was really questioning this album’s integrity after that opener. BUT it quickly turned around. everything was so funky and rhythmic and FUN! the beastie boys are always a fun listen so idk why i was surprised. nothing really stood out to me, but that’s not to say i didn’t like it… in fact, i would say my feelings on this album were more akin to love. would i go out of my way to listen? probably not (rap/hip-hop has never been my niche). BUT it was still a really good album. 4/5!

A great achievement in both rapping and sampling; my only complaint is that it's hard to listen to both at once.

I do love a sample heavy project it's like skipping through a radio stations. This is rich !!! So much fun!!! Lost me a couple times but really easily brought me right back in with fun rhymes even more fun beats and, again, those awesome samples. God I wish I could have seen these guys live - Favs: High plains drifter, 3-Minute rule, Looking down the barrel of a gun, B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A year and a day.

I have always kinda shrugged off the Beastie Boys because their flow isn't really a style that I particularly love and to be quite honest, it's seemed to me that a lot of their appeal to a lot of people has been "they're great rappers... BUT THEY'RE WHITE!!! isn't that crazy?!" and I find that pretty tiresome and lame. So I have never really given the Boys a fair shake. But I have to admit I really enjoyed this album. The production, and particularly the sampling, is just really really fun, really creative, really varied throughout the album. While they still rap with that kind of staccato 80s New York style that isn't my favorite, their rhymes are also undeniably creative and pretty clever. At times they are a bit boyish but it's never egregiously so. Even though it's not especially the kind of rapping that I like, they are certainly talented and manage to still be quite fun to listen to, and the strength of the album musically certainly carries it enough to make up for it. 7.5/10

If you don't like being shouted at then this is not the album for you, fortunately I love it. The sampling is also in a class of its own, lots to love on this.

Previously rated: License to Ill (5/5) Ill Communication (4/5) *************************** I don't have the nostalgia for this one like I do License to Ill, but this is probably a superior album, though I still prefer License. I'm not a fan of the added profanity in this one. I liked the throwback hip-hop sounds on a couple of the later tracks.

Still not that NY Jew that is obsessed.

Exactly what you would expect from a Beastie Boys album. The lyrics are just crass enough that if your mother heard you listening to it she would yell at you to turn it off, and the production of the beats has that nostalgic feeling that only rap from the late 80s and early 90s can give you. Has this style aged all that well? Not really, but its fun to come back to it from time to time. Not many of their hits on this one at all, but for a debut rap album from a group of white kids, its pretty solid.

An achievement, but also kind of too long. Feel like the beastie boys kept maturing past this lyrically but hit some real highs with the sampling. Since some of the songs are skips, it's a 4.

Lot of samples in this album. Good, but not great album.

I thought I was gonna laugh more than I actually liked it. I didn’t expect it to actually be good

Really good album, would’ve been a 5⭐️ if not for the B-Boy Bouillabaisse at the end. It didn’t do much for me

Really great, some lines haven't aged well but overall brilliant

Great album with some insane sampling. 8/10

Vintage Beastie Boys with some of their best beats.

Þessi er oftar en ekki ansi skemmtileg.

Not as crazy as "Shake Your Rump" seemed to have promised but just for showing what sampling could allow everyone to do, I respect the hell out of this album.

C'est tu vraiment bon? Oui. C'est tu mon préféré? Non. Trop de tracks un peu plus faibles, surtout vers la fin, l'album s'étire aussi. Par contre, la production des dust brothers est vraiment le fun, certaines chansons sont ridiculement inventives et amusantes. Les Beastie Boys sont en forme, c'est un gros saut qu'ils ont fait entre License to Ill et Paul's Boutique

Jeté par terre. J'ai été jeté par terre. Découvrir Paul's Boutique à mon âge. Waoh. La recette est bonne. Tout plein d'idées géniales. Des bons grooves. Un excès d'énergie. Ça nous embarque dès le départ et on ne décroche pas.

Production is unbelievably crisp. This is so listenable, could have been made yesterday. The Beastie Boys go kinda hard on this?? Like, they’re still the Beastie Boys but the rhymes are a little more intense? I dug it!!

I've always liked the Beastie Boys. I liked them, but not loved them. They have a certain appeal, you know? I was even privileged to see their last performance at Bonnaroo. So, I'm familiar with Paul's Boutique. I also understand that the Beastie Boys are nasally, grating, and somewhat annoying white rappers. However, they're all so fun, and have some lyrical prowess. Most of all, though, is the beats. I didn't realize it until I read the Wikipedia article (I always thought this was Mid Master Mike's work), but apparently the Dust Brothers produced this album. in any case the beats, largely produced by samples, are phenomenal. Each track blends into the next, get you moving, and sets the backdrop for some interesting and often hysterical Beastie Boys lyrics. Beastie Boys aren't for everyone, but for those who "get it", this album is fire.

i liked it when they sampled the song

I still laugh.

Pretty good on focused listen. don't know how much of the vocals I could take, but the drum beats were fun to focus on.

Love me some Beastie Boys